International

Belarus Denies N. Korea's Claim of Embassy Opening

Belarus has officially denied North Korea's claim that it opened an embassy in the former Soviet state.

Belarusian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Dmitry Mironchik said in a statement posted on the ministry’s Web site on Wednesday that North Korea has not yet established an embassy in Minsk.

Mironchik said there is no North Korean embassy in active operation in his country, adding that the Belarus government has not received a request from Pyongyang to endorse the appointment of an ambassador.

However, he said that if North Korea makes such a request, Belarus will make a decision on it later, leaving the possibility that the country will grant the opening of housing a North Korean embassy.

The spokesman added that Belarus and North Korea established diplomatic relations in 1992 and they can open an embassy in each other’s country to maintain the relationship based on a mutual agreement.

Last Wednesday, the North’s official Korean Central News Agency(KCNA) said the North opened an embassy in Minsk.

The North had only operated a trade representative in the country since 1992.